Internal combustion engine



April 20, 1943. B, M' BAER 2,317,167

'INTERNAL coMBUsTIoN ENGINE Filed Feb. 2:5, 1942 l' 20 7 le.` 6

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Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT `OFFICE INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGINE Bernard M. Baer, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application February 23, 1942, Serial No. 431,983

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine and moreparticularly to an engine of the four cycle type whose several cylindersare each provided with a novel form of piston.

The primary objects of the instant invention are to provide an internalcombustion engine of the general character above indicated whose severalcylinders are each provided with a double headed piston and eachcylinder is provided with a valved intake and exhaust port adjacent itsopposite ends; to provide such an engine wherein the reciprocal movementof the piston in either direction within its cylinder alternatelyperforms two of the four functions of a four cycle type engine withrespect to one chamber ofV the cylinder and alternately performs theother two functions thereof with respect to the other chamber of itscylinder; to provide suchr an engine wherein a chamber on one side ofeach of its several cylinders is provided with a piston rod bearing toprevent rocking of the several piston heads within their respectivecylinders; and, to provide such an engine which is eflicient inoperation and economical in construction and light in weight.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical central transverse sectional view of one cylinderof the internal combustion engine showing a charge of fuel being drawninto its lower chamber and a charge of fuel being exhausted from itsupper chamber;

Figure 2 is a sectional view thereof on line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic firing cycle chart of a two cylinder engineof the character herein illustrated and described.

Referring then to the drawing wherein like parts of the engine shown areeach designated by the same numerals in the several views, each cylinderof a two cylinder motor has an upper chamber I and a lower chamber IIdeiined by a reciprocating piston I2 having a piston rod I3 reciprocablewithin its bearing I4.

The upper chamber I0 is provided with a fuel intake port I5 controlledby the spring operated valve I6 actuated by the cam I1 and the upperchamber I0 is likewise provided with an exhaust port I8 controlled bythe spring operated valve I9 actuated by the cam 20.

The lower chamber II is provided with a similar intake port 2Icontrolled by the spring operated valve 22 actuated by the cam 23 andthe lower chamber is further provided with an exhaust port 24 controlledby the spring operated valve 25 actuated by the cam 26.

A spark plug 2l is provided for firing charges of compressed fuel in theupper chamber I0 and a similar plug 28 is provided for firing compressedfuel charges in the lower chamber I I.

The lower end of the piston rod I3 is provided with a bearing 29 and aconnecting rod 30 rotatable therein is rotatably secured at its otherend to the crank 3I within the crank case housing 32.

Each cylinder is provided with an oil port 33 for lubricating the innerwall thereof and an upstanding annular iiange 34, 35 circumscribes thehead of each lower intake and exhaust valve 22, 25 respectively toprevent fouling of the valves by oil Within the lower chamber II of thecylinder.

Referring to Figure l and to the position of the lower intake valve 22and the upper exhaust valve I9, a charge of fuel is being drawn into thelower chamber II as the products of combustion are being exhausted fromthe upper chamber I0, al1 as indicated in cycle 1 of cylinder I in theYdiagrammatic firing cycle chart, Figure 3.

During cycle 1 of cylinder I, a charge of fuel in the upper chamber ofcylinder 2 is being fired while a charge of fuel in the lower chamber ofcylinder 2 is being compressed, all again as indicated in thediagrammatic firing chart, Figure 3.

In cycle 2, a charge of fuel is being drawn into the upper chamber ofcylinder I while a charge of fuel is being compressed in its lowerchamber and a charge of fuel in the lower chamber or cylinder 2 is beingfired as the products of combustion are being exhausted from itsV uppercylinder.

In cycle 3 a charge of fuel in the lower cham ber of cylinder I is beingfired while a charge of fuel in its upper chamber is being compressedand a charge of fuel is being drawn into the upper chamber of cylinder 2while the products of `combustion within its lower chamber are beingexhausted.

In cycle 4, a charge of fuel in the upper chamber of cylinder I is beingfired as the products of combustion in its lower chamber are beingexhausted and a charge of fuel is being drawn into the lower chamber ofcylinder 2 as a charge of fuel in its upper chamber is being compressed.

It will thus be seen that the several balanced cylinders of the internalcombustion engine herein shown and described are each provided with anovel type piston and that such an engine is efficient in operation andeconomical in construction.

While but one specic embodiment of the inventlon has been herein shownand described, it will be understood that certain details of theconstruction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from thespirit of the invention as the same is dened by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An internal combustion engine having a pair of oppositely disposedcylinders the opposite ends thereof each being provided with an intakeand an exhaust valve, a piston having a piston rod alternatelyoppositely reciprocable within each cylinder and each piston defining achamber within its cylinder on its opposite sides, the chambers of bothcylinders at their like ends each having a piston rod bearing embracingits reciprocable piston rod, and a spar-k plug for each deiined chamberof each cylinder for ring charges of fuel compressed in cycles withineach chamber, cycle means for admitting a charge of luel into onechamber of one cylinder as the products of combustion are exhausted fromthe other chamber thereof and at the same time ring a charge of fuel ina chamber of the other cylinder as a charge is compressed in the othercylinder, thereafter repeating the remaining three cycles as to bothchambers of each cylinder.

2. An internal combustion engine having' a cylinder, the upper and lowerends thereof each being provided with spaced apart intake and exhaustvalves, a piston having a piston rodv reciprocable within the cylinderand dening a chamber on the opposite sides of the piston, the said lowerend of the cylinder having a piston rod bearing intermediate the saidintake and exhaust valves and embracing the-said reciprocable pistonrod, a spark plug for each defined chamber of the cylinder for firingcharges of fuel periodically compressed within each chamber, means forintroducing a lubricant into the cylinder for lubricating the interiorWalls thereof, and an individual upstanding ilange surrounding eachintake and exhaust valve in the lower end of the cylinder and acting asa means to prevent the said lubricant from fouling the intake andexhaust valves.

3. An internal combustion engine having a cylinder, the upper and lowerends thereof each being provided with spaced apart intake and exhaustvalves, a piston having a piston rod reciprocable within the cylinderand defining a chamber on the opposite sides of the piston, the saidlower end of the cylinder having a piston rod bearing intermediate thesaid intake and exhaust valves and embracing the said reciprocablepiston rod, a spark plug for each defined chamber of the cylinder forring charges of fuel periodically compressed Within each chamber, cyclemeans for admitting a charge of fuel into one chamber of the cylinder asthe products of combustion are exhausted from the other chamber thereof,thereafter admitting a charge to thesecond chamber as the charge in therst chamber is compressed, thereafter ring a compressed charge in therst chamber as the charge in the secondV chamber is compressed, and

` thereafter firing the compressed charge in the second chamber as theproducts of combustion in the first chamber are exhausted, means forintroducing a lubricant into the cylinder for lubricating the interiorwalls thereof, and an individual upstanding flange surrounding eachintake and exhaust valve in the lower endY of the cylinder and acting asa means to prevent the said lubricant from fouling the intake andexhaust valves.

BERNARD M. BAER.

